The Nexus with Art Swift

Matt Castelli, a former CIA officer, is running for Congress in Upstate New York against prominent GOP House leader Elise Stefanik. What’s it like to run for Congress as a Democrat in what may be a Republican “wave” election? We discuss the landscape of Castelli’s unique congressional district, his background in the CIA and the Biden agenda. Also, I wonder if there is a “real America” out there, especially after in light of tornadoes devastating Kentucky.

Poppy MacDonald, the President of USAFacts, a not-for-profit organization and website devoted to making government facts and data accessible to the public, joins me in The Nexus to discuss the mission of this organization and why combatting misinformation is so vital. Will people ever be able to accept one set of facts in national discourse? Also, I wonder what has happened to “strong and silent” men and why so many powerful men have become overly emotional and irresponsible.

Thomas Bingham, a senior grassroots trainer at Americans for Prosperity, discusses the pending PRO Act in Congress and how it will have an impact on the “gig” economy. Is this legislation a way for independent workers to be protected with benefits and the ability to unionize or will it force many freelancers out of their side jobs? We explore these issues and I tackle Hurricane Ida and climate change.

Michael Karlis from Salon.com joins us to discuss the trend of concerned citizens who are taking booster shots for COVID-19 even if they haven’t been legally approved yet. By fervently monitoring their antibody levels, these folks are becoming “citizen scientists.” Are they crazy or on the cutting edge? Also, I’ll offer my personal thoughts on my experience in Afghanistan and how this current crisis compares to Vietnam. The two conflicts are very much not the same, as the world has changed dramatically in 50 years.   

Lane Garrison, screenwriter and producer, as well as one of the stars of the new movie “12 Mighty Orphans” joins me in the Nexus to discuss why this film about an underdog high school football team in the Great Depression may be the perfect movie to see post-pandemic. Yet some critics have lambasted the film for so-called “toxic masculinity” and not having enough of a spotlight on women and struggles of Latino players. Garrison talks about these issues, along with working with the legendary Robert Duvall, and provides some enlightening memories about starring in Prison Break and as a recurring character on Yellowstone. Also, I’ll talk about my thoughts on America reopening far and wide. 

Meet Robe Imbriano, the creator and executive producer of “Amemd: The Fight for America,” a star- studded limited series about the 14th Amendment, hosted by Will Smith. We discuss why equal protection under the law is vital now and how this controversial amendment has had an impact on civil rights, women’s equality, marriage equality and immigration. Robe also mentions how a top shelf Netflix series is made. Also, I’ll talk about the new 2020 Census results and what they mean.

The Nexus welcomes Greg Schaefer, longtime friend of the show, and a recent investor of cryptocurrency as we explore his journey into this brave new world. Greg is bullish about the prospects of blockchain technology saving the world while redefining how finance is conducted. But is the negative, volatile reputation of cryptocurrency still justified? Also, I’ll discuss whether I think Washington DC should be the 51st state or not. The answer may surprise you. 

Molly Ball, the national political correspondent for Time magazine, discusses her best-selling book “Pelosi,” about the most powerful woman in American history, Nancy Pelosi. We tackle her rise through the Baltimore Democratic political machine, her signature legislative achievement, how she handled President Trump’s two impeachments, and whether there is still a rivalry with “The Squad.” Also, I’ll ponder whether Nancy Pelosi will ever give up power and retire, and who might succeed her as a leader.

Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, authors of the #1 New York Times best seller “Shattered,” return to The Nexus with their brand new book “Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency.” They explain why the 2020 presidential race was much closer than commonly reported, how Biden beat the odds and unseated an incumbent, the fierce competition to be vice president, and the dubious role of President Barack Obama.  

“Are the Islamic State and QAnon Similar?” That is the question asked of Brent Giannotta, a writer and former counterintelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. Giannotta discusses his new op-ed in the Los Angeles Times where he compares the terror group with the conspiracy theorists. How do those from QAnon who stormed the Capitol align with the rest of the 30 million Americans who follow this bizarre story? Also, I’ll talk about the disastrous vaccine rollout and how it’s become something of a random free-for-all to get dosed.